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**Author Peek** Interview with Kevin Rau

Before we get started talking about your writing, tell us a little about yourself, where you’re from, what you do for a living (if you’re not a fulltime writer) what hobbies you have, etc. Whatever you’d like to share.

I’m an avid science fiction and fantasy fan. I love comic books, but I haven’t read many in the last few years (budget control, and I’d generally rather pay $5 for an e-book that takes 8-10 hours to read than $3.50 for a comic book that takes me only 15 minutes to read/view). I enjoy tabletop miniatures games, just about all fantasy/action/sci-fi movies, and a variety of CSI-style TV shows.

I do my own cover art by creating 3D characters for my heroes and making the covers out of them. I have something like 35 characters on my website now, with about a dozen renders of each of them. I spend just about all of my non-primary-job time writing, editing, or doing cover design.

I used to collect comic books and play online role-playing games (such as World of Warcraft and Everquest 2). Those have generally been replaced by my writing the last few years.

1. How did you get started writing?

At the end of 2008, I stopped playing online games for a month and read about 30 novels in December. I realized that I wanted stories that were ongoing, but with almost all novels being either solo books or parts of trilogies, I couldn’t get my “fix.” So in January 2009 I began my first novel (H.E.R.O. – Metamorphosis) to fill that need. While at the time I hoped for a long, ongoing series, I never thought that by 2013 I would have 12 books in that series.

2. What genre(s) do you write in and why?

Until 2/20/2013, I’ve only been writing contemporary sci-fi (e.g. superhero fiction). I just released my first fantasy (sword & sorcery) novel. The reasons? Primarily because they are the genres I enjoy reading. While I do enjoy Warhammer 40,000 novels, they aren’t the type of fiction I would write. Not sure why.

3. What is your favorite part of writing?

Completing the goal of releasing a novel. I’m very goal-oriented, so hitting that time of milestone is a great thing to me. With my H.E.R.O. series, I also love having characters that have developed over so many books.

4. What is your least favorite part of writing?

I’m not a huge fan of promotion/marketing. My personality is somewhat reclusive by nature, so “pushing” my books feels wrong to me, somehow. Next up would be editing. It feels like work, but it’s a necessary part of the process.

5. Where do you get the ideas for your stories?

I’ll sit and brainstorm some core plot elements for each novel, sometimes with a little random web surfing just to generate ideas. I also use some software tools I’ve created for the tabletop games to come up with random ideas to spur something interesting.

6. What is it that makes your writing different from all the others in your genre?

I use a shifting first-person perspective that people claim they’ve never seen before. If so, then great, it’s unique. But, it’s also a little different than the norm, and may not be some people’s “cup of tea,” so to speak. I also keep it very action-oriented, and detailed in the combats. I’m well versed in superheroes, so I hope I’m able to bring some interesting views to the use of superpowers in a semi-realistic manner.

7. Are you an avid reader? When you do read someone else’s writing, what is your favorite genre?

I’ll generally pick up a Warhammer 40,000 novel or omnibus before most others. I enjoy the dark sci-fi. However, I also love superhero fiction, sword & sorcery fantasy, vampire romance, and even erotica.

8. Tell us about your next book & when is it being published?

I’ll go with Necromancer’s Ascent, since as I write this I’m waiting for it to go live on Amazon’s store. It’s a sword & sorcery fantasy novel set in a new world, where elemental magic is used by different types of mages, and monsters roam the land. In this first novel in the world, things are shaken up right from the start when a large group of necromancers tear a massive rift into the “realm of death.” This devastates the land in that region, and heroes become involved to try to stop it.

* Note that the first novel is available for FREE on all major e-retailers – there are links at the top of the “List of all 13 books” page above.

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BE SURE TO COME BACK to read more about Kevin and his novel, H.E.R.O. Dolldrum, on Wednesday’s Karen’s Killer Book Bench!

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**SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Kevin will give away a copy of his newest release, H.E.R.O. DOLLDRUM, to one lucky reader!! Comment on either his Monday Interview and/or Wednesday’s Karen’s Killer Book Bench blogs for a chance to win. Winner will be randomly selected and announced Monday, March 4, 2013. Thanks, Kevin, for sharing your stories with us!